Vayalar Ravi says Team Anna not that innocent

Hyderabad: After V Narayanasamy, another Union Minister Vayalar Ravi on Sunday attacked Team Anna, saying the anti-corruption group is "not that innocent" and alleged its activists could be acting in a "conspiracy" to destabilize Indian politics.

"The group of Anna Hazare, the so-called crusader against corruption, they are making all kinds of wild statements against the Prime Minister which they could not substantiate, which they could not do anything.

Ravi also asked what were the contributions by Anna Hazare, Bedi and Kejriwal for getting the Ramon Magsaysay award.

We suspect and I suspect that Anna and his people are not that innocent and every one of them go to the Magsaysay award which has been funded by the American foundations," Ravi said.

Referring to certain allegations against Anna's team members like Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal, Ravi claimed that none of them can claim to be honest.

Ravi also asked what were the contributions by Anna Hazare, Bedi and Kejriwal for getting the Ramon Magsaysay award.

"How the three persons Anna Hazare, Kiran Bedi and this Kejriwal all three got this award. What is their contribution? What is their contribution to get a prestigious international award or the Magsaysay award, what is the purpose? So, it all kind of a, I suspect there is a conspiracy to destabilize Indian politics," he said.

Asked whose conspiracy it was, Ravi said: "Those who do not want India to progress, march ahead. There are interested persons.

"This kind of international award comes to them on what basis? What purpose? It is not that simple. "Yesterday Narayanasamy rightly pointed out , I repeat what Narayanasamy, my colleague said. He said they collected huge amount," he said.

Launching a vitriolic attack on Team Anna, Union Minister V Narayanasamy yesterday charged that Hazare was surrounded by "anti-national elements" and those supported by "foreign forces".

Asked if he suspected that Team Anna members are "agents of America", Ravi said: "I never said so. I only said American Trusts, Rockfeller Foundation as well as the Ford Foundation finance this award committees. The money comes from the American foundations. That s what I said."

Rubbishing the allegations made by Team Anna against the Prime Minister, the Union Minister said Manmohan Singh is respected both in India and all over the world.

"Prime Minister is respected all over the world. Nobody in any part of the world, nobody in India has shown a finger to the Prime Minister," he said.

Ravi also raised questions on the funds collected by Team Anna during Hazare's fast at Ramlila maidan in Delhi in August last year.

"They never told correct figures, how many crores of rupees they collected on last satyagraha. Where did the money go ? Which account that money went? Huge donation has come to them from India and from outside - Where is that money?"

"How much money has been collected, place the account before the Indian people and say the names of people who gave the donation."